Biblical Instructions About Exercising and Obeying Authority

[Joseph Gill]

There are several passages in the New Testament that encourage and instruct leaders on how to exercise authority: by living up to their ordination [1 Tim. 4:14], by willingly and righteously assuming oversight of the flock [1 Pet. 5:2], by consistently preaching the word [2 Tim. 4:2], by rebuking the unruly [1 Tim. 5:20; Tit. 1:11–13], by exhibiting fatherly love [1 Thess. 2:11]. Moreover, we have scripture that explains how we should interact with leaders: by praying that they excel in the word [2 Thess. 3:1], by honoring their labor [1 Tim. 5:17; Heb. 13:7] by rendering to them our obedience [Heb. 13:17]; by receiving the word they minister to us as directly from God [1 Thess. 2:13].

The Church does not function properly until it is reconciled to these teachings regarding authority.